Overview
This is a first trade edition, first printing of 'The Plains of Passage', the fourth novel in Jean M. Auel's wildly popular Earth's Children prehistoric fiction series.
Identification
The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel, First Edition Hardcover (1990)
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Story
Published by Crown Publishers in October 1990, this is the fourth installment in Jean M. Auel's highly successful Earth's Children series. The series was a cultural phenomenon in the late 20th century, blending extensive Ice Age research with historical fiction. Mass-market fiction from the 1980s and 1990s, even first editions, generally suffers from oversupply. Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series was immensely popular, meaning first printings were produced in massive quantities.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed
Condition & Value
Assuming standard used condition based on the seller's description. For modern first editions, the presence and condition of the dust jacket are critical; any tears, price-clipping, or sticker residue will push the value toward the $10 floor.
Full Research
See what it's actually worth.
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Market Analysis
Mass-market fiction from the 1980s and 1990s, even first editions, generally suffers from oversupply. Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series was immensely popular, meaning first printings were produced in massive quantities. Consequently, the secondary market is saturated, and buyers are highly selective. Standard used copies move slowly and function primarily as reading copies rather than collector investments.
Value Drivers
▲ First edition, first printing status with full number line appeals to series completists.
▲ Presence of the original dust jacket is mandatory for collector interest.
▲ Verified AbeBooks retail ceiling establishes a $35 maximum for pristine unsigned copies.
Concerns
▼ Massive original print run severely limits scarcity and caps secondary market value.
▼ Any dust jacket flaws (tears, price-clipping, sticker residue) immediately drop value to the $10 reading-copy floor.
Best Venue
List on eBay or Amazon as a used book. Price at $12-$15 for a relatively fast sale, or bundle it with other books in the Earth's Children series to increase the total lot value and save on shipping. Selling as a single volume above $20 will likely require a long wait time.
Upside Potential
To exceed the $35 retail ceiling for an unsigned copy, the book would need to carry Jean M. Auel's verified signature or a personalized inscription, which could push the value into the $50-$75 range.